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Singapore's border measures for travellers from India to be tightened

SINGAPORE - DECEMBER 15: Travellers wearing protective mask walk along the transit area of Changi International Airport terminal on December 15, 2020 in Singapore. From mid-January, Singapore will allow a limited number of business travellers from any country to visit up to 14 days under a new segregated travel lane arrangement where they will be housed within dedicated facilities undergoing regular testing and observe all safety measurement management measures. As of 14 December, the Ministry of Health confirmed 5 new imported COVID-19 cases with no cases in the wider community bringing the country's total to 58,325. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)
Travellers wearing protective masks walk along the transit area of Changi International Airport terminal on 15 December, 2020 in Singapore. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE — Singapore authorities on Tuesday (20 April) announced the tightening of border measures for travellers from India as well as relaxing those for those arriving from Hong Kong and with recent travel history to the UK and South Africa.

Fully-vaccinated individuals travelling to higher-risk countries or regions as part of an official delegation will be allowed to be subjected to a standardised testing and self-isolation in lieu of prevailing border measures.

All revised measures will take place from 11.59pm on Thursday, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a media release.

Entry approvals for non-Singapore resident arrivals from India will be reduced and all travellers arriving from the country will need to serve an additional seven-day stay-home notice at their place of residence, given its worsening COVID-19 situation and the emergence of a double-mutant virus strain, the MOH noted.

Travellers arriving from India will now be tested for COVID-19 twice – once at the end of their notice at dedicated facilities as per the current requirement and at the end of their additional seven-day notice at their place of residence.

Travellers who have yet to complete their 14-day notice by 11.59pm on Thursday will be subjected to the additional seven-day notice, the MOH said.

Migrant workers arriving from India in the construction, marine and process sectors will continue to be subjected to a 21-day notice.

Separately, travellers arriving from Hong Kong will undergo a reduced seven-day notice, which can be served at their place of residence if suitable, given the improved COVID-19 situation in the city, said the MOH.

They will be subjected to an on-arrival COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and another PCR test before the end of their seven-day notice.

Additionally, long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to the UK and South Africa within the last 14 days will be allowed entry into Singapore, after obtaining the relevant entry approvals.

Arriving travellers will continue to serve a 14-day notice at dedicated facilities, with an additional seven-day notice at their place of residence. Those with recent travel history to the UK and South Africa will also be allowed to transit through Singapore on airlines approved to operate such transfers.

Fully-vaccinated individuals travelling to higher-risk countries and regions as part of an official delegation must adhere to a strict event-by-event controlled itinerary while overseas, and undergo COVID-19 PCR tests on arrival as well as the third, seventh, and 14th day of their return, said the MOH.

They will also be required to undergo a seven-day self-isolation period at home, or in a hotel, upon their return and may only leave their place of accommodation to commute to the PCR test site or to the workplace for essential work that cannot be done remotely.

"Travellers who are not fully-vaccinated will continue to be subjected to prevailing border measures upon their return," said the MOH.

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